With the changes, the Defense Ministry seeks to shorten the time-frames for developing infrastructure needed for the country's defense system.

"In the framework of the European security initiative projects, commitments as a hosting country and standards for the NATO enhanced forward forces, there is a constant need to develop infrastructure in territories intended for defense. The commitments and Allied requirements are burdened by the detailed plans coordination that is inconsistent with the needs of the defense system, long time-frames of preparation and revision territorial planning documents, change of land function and method, as well as construction processes," the ministry said.

According to the statement, Lithuania's Armed Forces reached the limit of possibilities for use the available infrastructure in 2016, which means that the defense system is no longer capable of ensuring proper conditions for the Allied forces that have been stationed in Lithuania.